This document describes 5 common research methods: interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, surveys, and internet/library research. Interviews collect primary qualitative data through face-to-face discussions but are time-consuming, while questionnaires efficiently gather primary data but risk inaccurate or incomplete answers. Focus groups effectively obtain qualitative information from group discussions yet require significant time. Surveys efficiently collect quantitative data from many individuals but not all people enjoy completing them. Internet and library research permit easy, inexpensive access to secondary data, but sources may be unreliable and finding relevant materials can be time-consuming.

1. RESEARCH
METHOD
DESCRIPTION TYPE OF DATA
(qualitative/quantitative
/primary/secondary)
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
INTERVIEW A meeting where people
talk face to face to discuss
matters and situations.
Primary data Gather a lot of information, very
easy.
Very time consuming.
QUESTIONNAIRE Set of questions on paper
that people have to
answer.
Primary data Very easy and quick. People might write anything,
they might lie so they can get
it over and done with. People
don’t like doing questionnaires
because it’s too long.
FOCUS GROUP A group of people that
participate/contribute in a
discussion.
Qualitative data Very easy, gather a lot of
information.
Very time consuming.
SURVEY A survey is a data collection
tool used to gather
information about
individuals.
Quantitative data Easy, quick, don’t need to interview
a large amount of people at once.
Not all people like doing
surveys.
INTERNET
RESEARCH
When you search what you
need to know on the
internet, for example if you
need a definition.
Secondary data Easy, quick, cheap. The source might have false
answers.
LIBRARY
RESEARCH
A place used to borrow
books etc. and has
computers
Secondary data Easy, cheap. Very time consuming, might
not find the book you need.